]]>http://governingboard.mccchurch.org/news-from-the-governing-board-september-2014/feed/0Statement on General Conference 2013 Eligibilityhttp://governingboard.mccchurch.org/statement-on-general-conference-2013-eligibility/
http://governingboard.mccchurch.org/statement-on-general-conference-2013-eligibility/#commentsWed, 13 Mar 2013 22:27:40 +0000http://governingboard.mccchurch.org/?p=638The Governing Board values our relationships with our congregations and desires to offer a vibrant General Conference experience. We ARE, indeed, stronger together. To that end, we wish to ensure that we are working with churches, Senior Pastors and Board of Directors to help them meet long-established eligibility standards for voting in the Business Meeting at our upcoming General Conference. We invite you to partner with us to ensure that your congregation is current on tithe assessments and Board of Pensions payments (for US churches) AND help to ensure our records are accurate.

If funds are not currently available to bring tithes and pension funds current, reaching a payment agreement is all it takes to become compliant. We will gladly work with you to reach an agreement prior to June 1, 2013.

Just so you are aware, as is procedure, the Governing Board, passed the following motion to affirm eligibility standards and deadlines for the Business Meeting.

“In order to be eligible to vote at General Conference XXV, churches must have paid their UFMCC tithe assessment through 31 March 2013, no later than 21:00 UTC/GMT (5:00 p.m. EDT) on 1 June 2013, or a current, signed tithe covenant must be in place, no later than 21:00 UTC/GMT (5:00 p.m. EDT) by 1 June 2013.

For U.S. churches, Board of Pension payments must also be current through 31 March 2013, by 21:00 UTC/GMT (5:00 p.m. EDT) on 1 June 2013.”

Existing agreements remain valid through the 2013 General Conference as long as the congregation remains current and consistent

If you have any questions or concerns about your congregational eligibility to vote, please contact us at .

Onward to Chicago!

MCC Governing Board

]]>http://governingboard.mccchurch.org/statement-on-general-conference-2013-eligibility/feed/0International Task Force Final Reporthttp://governingboard.mccchurch.org/international-task-force-final-report/
http://governingboard.mccchurch.org/international-task-force-final-report/#commentsThu, 07 Mar 2013 03:41:08 +0000http://governingboard.mccchurch.org/?p=623The MCC Governing Board is pleased to announce the release of the International Task Force Final Report.
If you have questions, please direct them to the Governing Board at

Greetings from your MCC Governing Board! MCC is empowering on an important step in our 44 year history over the next 4 years, the election of our third Moderator of MCC at our 2016 General Conference XXVI. We are seeking experienced persons who can solicit, recruit and select up to five (5) qualified candidates to present to the General Conference of which one will be elected to continuing leading our global denomination, spiritually and managerially in the 21st century. We are looking forward to hearing from you and are asking your assistance to identify qualified candidates to apply for the Moderator Nominating Committee.

The Governing Board will appoint a three (3) person committee to serve until the 2016 General Conference XXVI.We are seeking an qualified persons to appoint to the Moderator Nominating Committee as stated in UFMCC Bylaw, Article V.C.2.a – MODERATOR:“MODERATOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE: The Governing Board shall appoint a Moderator Nominating Committee of three (3) persons. The responsibility of the Moderator’s Nominating Committee is to actively solicit candidates for the position, review any and all applications, and select up to five (5) qualified candidates. The qualified candidates shall be presented by the Governing Board to the General Conference for election.”Here are some ways you can assist us:1) Do you know of someone in your local church who has the kind of professional background, expertise, high level of spiritual maturity and commitment that we need on this Nominating Committee? Invite them to apply, forward this email and link to the application to them today!2) Talk with those you know in MCC who may know someone who is perfect for this Nominating Committee.

3) Talk with people in your church and MCC Network about potential candidates.

4) Consider submitting an application for yourself.

5) Pray that we have a vibrant, substantial pool of applicants, both Laity and Clergy, from which to appoint three persons to serve on the Moderator Nominating Committee through 2016 General Conference XXVI.

We have implemented the following process to appoint three (3) persons no later than 31 March 2013:

If you are interested or know a person who should apply to serve on this Moderator Nominating Committee position to serve MCC, please contact us at MNC@mccchurch.net to receive an application.

Applications are due by 5:00 pm US Eastern time, Monday, 21 January 2013.

The Governing Board will review all applications received.

The Governing Board will pre-select candidates and conduct interviews with candidate(s).

The Governing Board will select and appoint three (3) persons to serve on the Moderator Nominating Committee by our March 2013 Governing Board meeting.

The Governing Board will send out an announcement to introduce our new Moderator Nominating Committee prior to publication of the official 2013 MCC General Conference Business Package.

View the application for potential candidates.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at MNC@mccchurch.net.

November 12th

to submit your Application for the Governing Board.

The Governing Board Nominating Committee needs you. Serving on the Governing Board is an opportunity for clergy and laity to labor together on a unified, global MCC Board. This Board partners with the Moderator and the Elders to facilitate tasks and to support the continuation of the momentum in ministry that has been building since the Acapulco General Conference.

Today we are publishing information about the Board Charter and qualifications for service on the Governing Board. During the General Conference in Acapulco, we elected our first term of Governing Board members. Elections for the next terms will be held during the 2013 General Conference in Chicago.

Our Nominations Committee is excited about the prospect of many, excellent and diverse candidates, and would like your help to recruit potential nominees. Serving on the Governing Board is an opportunity for clergy and laity to labor together on a unified, global MCC Board. This Board partners with the Moderator and the Elders to facilitate tasks and to support the continuation of the momentum in ministry that we have been building. This Board also works with our leadership and staff to creatively develop the resources to keep us moving forward into the future. To date, the Board has expanded its reach and work through teams that have already grown to include people who are not on the Board itself, whose gifts are crucial to their work.

Click here to go to the Governing Board home page to learn more about the Board and their activities since Acapulco. I would like to re-introduce the Governing Board Nominating Committee Cathy Alexander (chair), Rev. Catherine Dearlove, and Rusty Hall who have a message for you as well.

Greetings from your Governing Board Nominating Committee. We are looking forward to hearing from you and are asking your assistance to identify qualified candidates to apply for the Governing Board. We would like those who have a heart for governance, along with the skills and experience for this type of ministry to prayerfully consider assisting in recruiting qualified candidates for these critically important positions:

Do you know of someone in your local church that has the kind of professional background, expertise, high level of spiritual maturity and commitment that we need on this Board? Invite them to apply, forward this email and link to the application to them today!

Talk with those you know in MCC who may know someone who is perfect for this Board.

Talk with people in your church and MCC Network about potential candidates.

Consider submitting an application for yourself.

Pray that we have a vibrant, substantial pool of applicants from which to select a slate of nominees to be brought to General Conference for a powerful time of discerning our future and our leadership.

The bylaws state the qualifications for members of the Board. “Members of the Governing Board must be members in good standing within the Fellowship who, in the sole discretion of the UFMCC, have spiritual quality and leadership, are mature, have sound judgment, and have a proven record of accomplishment. Consideration will be given to elect members with diverse perspectives, core competencies, and complementary skills consistent with the required functions and responsibilities of the Governing Board.”

to view the application for potential candidates.

Our deadline for the receipt of all applications is 5 pm EST, Monday, 12 November 2012. Thank you for your willingness to serve and for your passion for MCC’s ministry and future! See you in Chicago.

]]>http://governingboard.mccchurch.org/help-us-recruit-candidates-for-the-governing-board/feed/0Governing Board Announces Updates to the Governance Websitehttp://governingboard.mccchurch.org/governing-board-announces-updates-to-the-governance-website/
http://governingboard.mccchurch.org/governing-board-announces-updates-to-the-governance-website/#commentsThu, 19 Apr 2012 16:50:04 +0000http://governingboard.mccchurch.org/?p=461During the 24th January 2012 Governing Board meeting, we approved an updated version of the MCC Policy for Discipline of Ministry Leaders, which is also known as UFMCC Bylaws Addendum 4 – Judiciary Process, effective 1 January 2012.

Additional instructions and forms for submitting UFMCC Bylaw Amendment proposals are available. Network Leaders have been briefed on the bylaw change process resources and the location of the forms. However, you may contact the Governing Board if you have questions or concerns regarding the implementation of UFMCC Bylaws Addendum 1 – Procedures for Submitting Bylaw Proposals.

The Clerk of the Special General Conference is pleased to announce the results of the affirmation voting for the position of Elder for Reverend Hector Gutierrez and Reverend Dr. Mona West. The virtual polling opened on Wednesday, 28 March, at 9:00 am EDT (1:00pm GMT) and closed on Thursday, 29 March, at 5:00 pm EDT (9:00pm GMT). SurveyMonkey™ consultants have independently verified the voting results.

As we look to the demands of the present and future mission of MCC, as a church that follows Jesus Christ in the 21st Century, we continue to need people of outstanding record and qualifications to serve at the highest levels of global leadership in our denomination/movement. At this juncture, the Moderator has invited Rev. Dr. Mona West and Rev. Héctor Gutiérrez to step into the role of Elder in MCC to help lead us into our future. Both of them have accepted that invitation, prayerfully, and now it is time for those appointments to be approved and affirmed.

What do the MCC By-laws say is the role of Elders?

“The Council of Elders of the UFMCC is that body authorized by the General Conference to serve in a pastoral role and direct the spiritual life of the Fellowship.” Article V.C.3, lines 399-400

How are Elders in MCC authorized?

The first MCC Board of Elders was the board of directors of MCC Los Angeles and was all volunteers. After the first General Conference, Elders were elected by the lay and clergy delegates, with an appointment process for vacancies in between conferences. Eventually, some Elders were full-time on staff. They served on a General Council, which was the fiduciary body of MCC at that time. About 10 years ago, we created a system where Elders were nominated and elected by Regions. Then, in 2010, we simplified our structure, creating an elected Governing Board and a Council of Elders. Elders are no longer elected but are appointed by the Moderator, approved by the Governing Board, and affirmed by the General Conference. (Article V.C.3 of the MCC By-laws)

Who can be an Elder?

An Elder can be any member in good standing of MCC, who meets the qualifications, and is appointed by the Moderator. Those qualifications are:

“Elders must be those individuals of obvious spiritual quality and leadership who are mature, have sound judgment, have a proven record of accomplishment as lay or clergy members within the Fellowship, and have successful experience in envisioning and strategic planning for the future. Elders must be excellent communicators, skilled motivators and teachers, self-motivated and devoted to continuous learning. Further, Elders must be capable of understanding and working within sound fiscal guidelines, be sensitive to cultural differences, and be able and willing to embrace diversity. It is desirable that the Council of Elders reflect the diversity of the Fellowship.” Article V.C.3.a of the MCC By-laws

What do Elders do today in MCC?

“The primary responsibility of Elders shall be to give pastoral leadership and care to enable the Fellowship in our spiritual journey. The Elders shall exercise spiritual and pastoral authority to build a shared vision for the UFMCC, prepare UFMCC for the future, and support UFMCC’s strategic direction. The Elders serve as official representatives of the Fellowship in the areas of public and community relations; provide oversight of and support to congregations; consult with churches on issues related to church development; and fulfill other ecclesial and ceremonial duties.” Article V.C.3.b. of the MCC By-laws

Elders have two primary roles:

1) As members of the Council of Elders, Elders have an ecclesial role: they oversee the affiliation of churches; and they have authority over the Clergy Manual and protocols for authorizing MCC clergy. Elders then are key to setting standards and boundaries, based on the by-laws, by which churches and clergy are represented at General Conference. Elders also oversee the appointment of Network leaders and relate to churches through the Network system.

2) Elders have a spiritual/pastoral and teaching role in the Church: Elders are called upon to develop leadership programs, teach at summits, preach at MCC conferences, church anniversaries, and support MCC in terms of increasing church strength and health; and in strategically supporting new church starts and emerging ministries. They are looked to as spiritual and pastoral leaders by the pastors, lay leaders and people of MCC. They may also be asked by the Moderator to represent and to speak for the denomination publicly.

What do Elders “mean” to the people of MCC?

Elders are gifted individuals who are highly esteemed, respected and who are looked to for wisdom, for embodying and articulating with passion the values, vision, mission, and faith that MCC holds dear. We expect Elders to challenge us, to offer spiritual, pastoral and organizational leadership. They are also a symbol of the unity-in-diversity of MCC. As the Council of Elders, they form a kind of “collegium” of support for the Moderator. Elders also embody the continuity of the founding narrative of MCC connecting generations of servant leadership.

Financial Impact: None. Both Dr. West and Rev. Gutiérrez already serve on staff in senior positions. There may be additional travel expenses, which can be comfortably managed within our present budget.

Rev. West has served on the Senior Leadership Team for several years and has been an outstanding Director of the Office of Formation and Leadership Development. She is a person of integrity and spiritually maturity and outstanding in her qualifications for her role as Elder. Under her leadership, the clergy credentialing process runs extremely well, and our clergy and lay leadership program offerings have multiplied in quantity and quality. She has expanded our OFLD staff and now also oversees the Judiciary process. She balances leadership and management well in her role on our Senior Leadership Team.

As the person most responsible for authorizing and supporting the clergy of MCC, she has brought professionalism and grace to that role. In addition, her passion for lay ministry has broken through barriers, especially with the creation of LEAD.

Dr. West brings a deep commitment to pastoral ministry, a vocation for deepening the spiritual lives of leaders in MCC. She is a sought after preacher and teacher, not only in MCC, but also at many of our partner seminaries. She is a mentor, spiritual director and pastor to pastors and lay leaders. She is not only respected within MCC but is highly regarded in the LGBT and religious world, as a scholar and academic, and as a teacher and writer.

It is an honor to appoint Rev. Dr. Mona West to the office of Elder in MCC and to the Council of Elders.

Dr. West will continue her ministry as Director of OFLD and will not take on any additional roles, such as with a Network. Her ecclesial role will primarily be to continue to authorize and nurture the clergy house of General Conference. We do expect that she will continue to be asked to preach and teach and be available to the people of MCC as an Elder, as time permits.

Rev. Héctor Gutiérrez has served MCC as clergy for many years and has been the “right arm” of Rev. Elder Darlene Garner, who has been his mentor. Rev. Gutiérrez is a person of integrity and spiritual maturity and is outstanding in his qualifications for the role of Elder. His pastoral experience and his education and training are a great addition to our leadership. For many years, he has essentially been the “Elder” of a growing MCC in Latin America, which is the most exciting growth story of the last 6 or 7 years. Rev. Gutiérrez oversees 49 churches and emerging groups and has recently been appointed the Associate Director of the Office of Emerging Ministries.

Rev. Gutiérrez manages MCC churches in all of Latin America, in the Spanish Caribbean, and in Spain. He oversees their Network and works virtually with churches in Spanish and Portuguese. He authorizes new churches and oversees affiliation in Latin America, as well as oversees the Latin American clergy protocol.

Rev. Gutiérrez is one of the founders and the director of the Garner Latin American Training Institute that trains MCC clergy and lay leaders. He also serves as staff to the International Task Force and works with our Hispanic North America Emerging Churches Team.

It is an honor to appoint Rev. Héctor Rev. Gutiérrez to the office of Elder in MCC and to the Council of Elders.

Rev. Gutiérrez will continue to do the work he has been doing for some time, building an expanded infrastructure for MCC in Latin America going forward. Rev. Gutiérrez, as Dr. West, will be an Elder for all of MCC and may also be invited to preach and teach in various settings around the globe, as time permits.